POSTPONED TIL 5/15/25 - Blind Boys of Alabama

The Blind Boys Christmas Show mixes holiday standards with selections from their Grammy-winning holiday classic album, Go Tell It On The Mountain and the spirited Talkin’ Christmas album. Blind Boys will have everyone in the audience singing and clapping along to spread the joy of the season!

“The beloved gospel ensemble the Blind Boys of Alabama...remains perennially fresh, whether it’s interjecting godliness into unexpected songs or, as in this case, saluting Christmas.” – The New Yorker

Stream: "Talkin' Christmas!" Spotify playlist
Video: "Last Month of the Year"
Video: "There Will Never Be Any Peace"
Video: "Merry Christmas”

The Blind Boys of Alabama are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Recording Academy/GRAMMYs with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and winners of six GRAMMY® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years. The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material by songwriters such as Eric Clapton, Prince, and Tom Waits. They have appeared on recordings with many artists, including Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, Susan Tedeschi, Ben Harper, Patty Griffin, and Taj Mahal.

The Blind Boys released their latest album, 'Echoes Of The South,’ in August of 2023. It foundthe Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees coming home to Alabama to record in Muscle Shoals. The eleven-song collection is a portrait of perseverance from a group well-versed in overcoming incredible odds - from singing for pocket change in the Jim Crow South to performing for three different American presidents, soundtracking the Civil Rights movement, and helping define modern gospel music as we know it. The album garnered three GRAMMY® Award nominations, and won for Best Roots Gospel Album.

That win continued a run of GRAMMY® Award nominations from the two previous years. In 2021, the group’s collaborative recording with Béla Fleck, ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel ToBe Free,’ was tapped in the Best American Roots Performance category. In 2022, they garnered another nod for their collaboration with the band Black Violin on 'The Message’ in the Best Americana Performance category.

In March 2024, the definitive book on the Blind Boys of Alabama, titled Spirit of the Century, was released. It’s an insider history of America’s longest-running group and the untold story of their world, written with band members and key musical colleagues. Appearances on The View tv show and other major media outlets followed. After all these years, the Blind Boys show no signs of slowing down!

About Sanctuary Hall

Sanctuary Hall, nestled within the First Congregational Church at 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97201, stands as a beacon of cultural and historical significance in Portland, Oregon. Esteemed for its rare Venetian Gothic architecture, this hallmark was meticulously constructed between 1891 and 1895, drawing inspiration from the Old South Church in Boston. Designed by the Swiss architect Henry J. Hefty, it captivates with its distinctive use of color, pointed arches, and elaborate detailing, contributing to Portland's architectural diversity.

Its 175-foot bell tower, once the tallest structure in Portland, signifies the church's historic prominence. Although the original design included additional towers and a cupola removed in 1951, the essence of its grandeur remains intact. The stained glass windows, commissioned in 1906 by the Povey Brothers, add layers of artistic and historical value, enhancing its aesthetic allure.

As a non-profit, all-ages venue, Sanctuary Hall embodies a mission to foster and reflect the community's cultural life, firmly rooted in the appreciation and preservation of its architectural majesty. It serves as a vibrant center for arts and music, embracing its role in the community with a deep acknowledgment of the land's original inhabitants and their enduring legacy.

Pre-sale tickets available March 8th at https://bit.ly/artmusiccommunion